For those of you who don't know - I use an airbrush to paint quite a few of my pieces. Airbrushing is fun! Though truth be told, it's a HUGE undertaking to set up. Especially, if you have to airbrush indoors.
You won't often find me painting one papier mache piece at a time and/or making one piece and finishing it before I move on to the next - part of the reason is because I use an airbrush. It would be painful to set everything up and take it all back down again every few days.
In the pictures below you will see the set up on my work bench and the tools I use. If you're a professional and use an airbrush daily you'll probably get a kick out of my very unprofessional set up. Just keep in mind I learned most of this stuff by myself, right or wrong - it's how I choose to do it. Aside from that... I couldn't be bothered to watch the dvd on airbrushing that came with compressor.
Okay onto the tool list:
Most importantly you'll need a plastic drop cloth, an airbrush (obviously) - mine's an Iwata - dual action, my air compressor is an Iwata Smart Jet. Airbrush holder that clamps to workbench. Paints are acrylics diluted with airbrush medium or distilled water. Filters for my paints are small pieces of nylon hosiery (placed under the bottle cap), airbrush cleaner of choice is Windex. I use paper toweling to help clean my airbrush, a plastic cup for dirty paint, paper towels and soiled Windex. I also wear a latex glove to hold pieces (if need be.)
When airbrushing, I often prop my pieces on cardboard thread cones or use wooden dowels inside those thread cones for smaller pieces. Oh and I use a wooden skewer (not pictured) to help unclog the airbrush nozzle, if need be.
I can't give you any amazing tips on airbrushing itself - because you have to have a feel for it. You should however hold the airbrush away from your work, similar to using a spray can and your strokes should be even, both vertical and horizontal - try not to get too close to your piece or paint a single area solidly in one shot - instead turn your piece and continue to spray until you get an even, consistent coat of paint.
Okay, onto the pics - You'll see a before shot of my workbench - covered in plastic drop cloth, pics of my tools, a pic of what my workbench looks like after I finished airbrushing today and a pic with my airbrush in pieces - yes, you do have to take it apart and clean it thoroughly, if you don't - you'll be SORRY! There's also a few pics of the airbrushed WIP's. I say works in progress because I still prefer to hand paint parts of my pieces.
Have a fun week! ~ As for me I'll continue airbrushing tomorrow - I still have a few jack o' lanterns, witches and devil lanterns to do! ~ Lori
All images and content are © 2010 Retro Rudolph's
